The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the UK artist trade body, and Amazon Music, Amazon's digital music streaming service, are delighted to reveal the awardees of their recently launched FAC Step Up Fund supported by Amazon Music. The nine hugely talented recipients are Daniel Casimir, Friedberg, LVRA, Joel Culpepper, Elkka, nineteen97, Cherise, Deyah and VUKOVI.

The FAC Step Up Fund was launched in November 2021 to provide financial support and a broader package of benefits for career changing projects of artists at a crucial point in their careers. Applications were accepted from professional artists of all genres, based in the UK, aged 16+. Artists were able to apply for financial support of up to £8000. The first round of the FAC Step Up Fund received a total of 260 applications of extremely high standard, which has led to the decision of increasing the total funding amount to be able to fully support more applications. Awardees will receive a package of financial support for an array of projects, as well as programme support from the FAC and Amazon Music.

We're thrilled to award bassist and composer Daniel Casimir, who just released his album Boxed In, both a celebration of Black British Culture and a critique of the genres, labels and stereotypes which have traditionally been placed upon black musicians. He is joined by alt-rock band Friedberg, fronted by London-based singer and songwriter Anna Friedberg, who just released their debut EP Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. Born in Edinburgh to Chinese parents, singer and producer LVRA, who channels her love of R&B and experimental electronics in her music, also receives the FAC Step Up Fund. Joining the fantastic list of awardees is South-London's soul artist Joel Culpepper, who recently released his debut album Sgt Culpepper independently.

We're proud to award Elkka, who began her path as a singer-songwriter and has evolved into a multi-faceted producer, DJ and label boss of her label femme culture. Multi-talented UK Rap and Grime artist nineteen97 born in Coventry, who combines multiple British and Caribbean subcultures and pushes the sonic boundaries, also receives support from the FAC Step Up Fund. Multi-faceted Soul and R&B artist Cherise, who just released her EP Remedy, creating both contemporary and timeless music, is also being awarded. We're delighted to support Welsh rapper Deyah, who previously won the Welsh Music prize for her mixtape Care City. Finally, the 2-piece alternative rock band VUKOVI from Scotland, who have released two full length albums and toured the UK and Europe, join the roster of talented FAC Step Up Fund Awardees.

We would like to congratulate all the FAC Step Up Fund Awardees and we look forward to supporting their projects and assisting them to step up to the next level of their careers.

David Martin, CEO, FAC:
"We are happy to support these nine amazingly talented artists, as they step up to the next level of their career. The high number and high quality of applications clearly shows that there is a big need for financial support for artists. We are proud to offer our support in partnership with Amazon Music and we look forward to backing the recipients and their individual projects over the next 12-months."

Ross Watson, Head of Label Relations at Amazon Music:
"We're thrilled to be announcing these nine hugely talented artists as recipients of the FAC Step Up Fund. The volume and quality of applications was astounding, and demonstrates the calibre of talent coming up through the music industry in the UK at the moment. We're really pleased to be able to offer the nine awardees support as they take the next step in their careers."

Joel Culpepper, FAC Step Up Fund Awardee:
"It's a pleasure to have the Step Up Fund and Amazon Music be a contributing factor to my next steps as an artist. Feel very grateful to have been selected. In a time where independent artists are at the epicentre of the music industry, what a time to be alive."

Janine, VUKOVI, FAC Step Up Fund Awardee:
"Receiving this grant from the Featured Artists Coalition and Amazon Music has given us the opportunity to fulfil the creative expectations we have for ourselves. The funding helps us to reflect a true representation of who we are as artists and working with some of the best like-minded creatives in the industry is extremely exciting for us."